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Formula One: Barrichello is not giving up on a seat for 2012

Rubens Barrichello says he's still hoping to find a Formula One seat in 2012. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Rubens Barrichello says he's not yet given up hope of finding a Formula One seat in 2012, which would be his 20th at the top level.

While Kimi Räikkönen and Adrian Sutil have been linked to his Williams seat, Barrichello said he remains optimistic. He refuses to concede that his 322nd start in Brazil could also turn out to be his last.

"I'm just waiting for people to call," the Brazilian driver said on Thursday. "The only thing I have in mind is the year that I'm going to have ahead. I'm thinking like I did in 2008, just positive. I might go to the Brazilian GP without any confirmation or without anything, but I'm not saying good-bye to my fans. I want to be there next year.

"I just have to wait and see. The team have myself very motivated and just waiting for an answer. If God wishes, I will be on the grid for my 20th year."

Barrichello admitted that he was talking to other teams up and down the paddock, even if few have obvious vacancies.

"I talked to all of them, to be honest. There's no point in telling you who I'm talking to. It's just nice situation to be in, to be talking to competitive teams. If I was on my first or second year I would be very worried, but it's been such a long time. . . . Life is too good to be moaning about the problems and why they haven't signed me just yet. I'm just concentrating on the positive, really."

Asked whether he thought Räikkönen really wanted to come back, Barrichello said, "I don't know. To be honest I never talked to Kimi when he was racing, and he never talked to me. I believe that he had very little talks with the team, by any means."